Track Four: Hotter than July (Revised)

             When I think of culture, I imagine a group of people that live in the same geographical area, with similar ethnicities, and shared values and beliefs. However, living in the United States, we have a constant clash and mixing of cultures as people continue to move to the U.S. from all around the world. In the album Hotter than July, Stevie Wonder uses his songs to speak to the culture of 1980, but specifically African American culture, while also trying in some religious values. Hotter than July came out after the failure of his previous album, Journey through the Secret Life of Plants, so Wonder needed a successful album to start off a new decade. The album did do well, reaching number three on the US Billboard chart and number two in the UK.

            Stevie Wonder is known for his strong vocals and blend of African and pop sounds, and this album did not disappoint. His sound reminded me a bit of Earth, Wind & Fire, who I reviewed last week. And I think that their similar sound is why my parents are fans of both artists. Both of my parents remember growing up and listening to Stevie Wonder, and some of his famous songs such as “Superstition,” and “Sir Duke.” They said his songs were always playing on the radio, and all of his albums were eagerly anticipated.

            Multiple times in this album, Stevie Wonder discusses and alludes to African American culture, while keeping a “Pan African” ideology. This mentality focuses on the need for unity in order to uplift the people descending from Africa. In “Master Blaster,” Wonder uses a reggae sound to allude to Bob Marley, as the pair had met earlier in the year before the album was released. Wonder talks about celebrating, as “Peace has come to Zimbabwe.” Here, Wonder is referring to the fact that Zimbabwe finally got independence from Great Britain on April of 1980, after being a colony for ninety years. In the song, the instruments are softer, which allows the vocals to really pop. And Wonder sounds authentic when he uses a Jamaican accent when singing the word, “jamming.” By combining the uplifting music and lyrics, Wonder expresses that blacks being able to have independence is definitely something to celebrate. And by including a reference to a historical event, it makes the song and message more realistic.

            Wonder also advocates for black culture celebration in his song, “Happy Birthday.” Wonder uses narrative lyrics in order to advocate for making Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday. His tone is almost disbelief, he cannot understand why his birthday has not already been made into a holiday. Throughout the song, he references some of Dr. King’s accomplishments, such as Dr. King’s I have a Dream speech, and says that people cannot see the dream of celebrating equality like Dr. King could. He acknowledges that Dr. King was, “a man who died for good,” and should have a, “day that would be set aside for his recognition.” Wonder balances verses with serious messages about Dr. King with upbeat hooks which say, “Happy Birthday.” By using these different tones, Wonder shows the reality of civil rights in the United States. It took many years of struggle for blacks to have equality in the United States, as reflected in the more somber verses. But now that equality has been achieved, the nation needs a day to celebrate, specifically Dr. King’s birthday. Overall, I think this song had the strongest and most meaningful lyrics. I found it very clever to advocate for a national holiday on Dr. King’s birthday by doing a remix of a classic birthday song. I don’t usually enjoy listening to narrative songs, as they can sometimes sound almost academic, but the message is so important in this song that I didn’t mind.

           In the song “Cash in Your Face,” Stevie Wonder uses narrative lyrics again to discuss African American discrimination. In this case, Wonder even goes as far as using different voices for the two characters in the song: himself and the apartment owner. The man is trying to find an apartment to live in with his very pregnant wife, but the apartment owner denies him, saying it has already been filled with a new tenant. However, it is clear that the apartment owner is refusing the man because of his race, as he says, “But you can not cash in your face, We don’t want your kind living here.” By showing that racial discrimination still exists, Wonder draws attention to a problem that still exists in the culture of the 1980s. Even though the black man in the song has the money to pay rent, the owner still doesn’t want to take him in. Again, even though the song has an upbeat feel with the electric guitar, the message is serious. Wonder argues that blacks and whites are equal, so it is disappointing and angering that people continue to be racist and prevent unity. 

            Overall, I found this album to be enjoyable to listen to. Stevie Wonder’s vocals are strong and consistent in every song. I found the softer music to be easier to listen to, while allowing the vocals to stand out. They lyrics were deep in their meanings and gave ideas for the listener to think about. The songs were tied to African American culture, and reflected how society in the late 1970s and early 1980s was still far from being completely equal. I would give Hotter than July 4 out of 5 stars, and definitely an album I would enjoy listening to with my parents and family.